Steam-boiler



2 Sheets-#Sheet 1. G. A. COLBY. STEAM BOILER.

(No Model.)

, No. 436,033. Patented Sept. 9, 1890.

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UNITED STATES 'PATENT-OFFICE.'

GILBERT A. comer, oF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,033, dated September 9, 1890.

Application filed October 22, 1888. Serial No. 288,837. (No model.)

' those boilers in which the water is held in a plurality of tubes which are exposed to the action of the tire.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, Fign re lis a vertical longitudinal section of a boiler constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, with part of the boiler-casing broken away to show the water-head. Fig. 3 is a viewin elevation of the rear end of the boiler, a portion of the water-head beingbroken away to show the same in sectional view. Figa is an enlarged detail section, showing one of the hand-hole plates for closing the hand-holes in the water-head and the devices for securing the same in place. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the said hand-hole plates. Fig. 6 shows the cap-plates employed for holding the handhole plates in place. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail in section, showing the packing-rings placed between the water-heads at the point of communication.

As illustrated in said drawings, A A A are vertical water-heads located side by side in contact with each other at the front end of the boiler, and A A A are similarly arranged water-heads at the rear end of the boiler.

B B B indicate a series of water-tubes arranged in an inclined position and extending between the said water-heads A A A and A A A', with which said tubes B B B are connected at their ends. The tubes B B B are located at the lower part of the boiler adjacent to the furnace so that the water therein is exposed to the most intense heat from furnace-nre.

Above the tubes B B B is located a second set or series of water-return tubes C C C,

which are arranged horizontally, and are also `connected at their end-s with the Water-heads A A A and A A A. Said tubes B B B and C C C, together with the said water-heads A Y A A and A A A', form a closed circut, in which the water is adapted tofreely circulate, the water in the inclined tubes B B rising as it is heated and flowing upwardly to the waterheads A A A, and then passing through the return-tubes C C backwardly to water-heads A A A. The water-heads A A A terminate a short distance above the level of the return-tubes C C C; but the heads A A A are extended a considerable distance above said PPGS- D D D are a third set or series of pipes located above the return-tubes C C C and connected at their front ends with the upper parts of the water-heads A AA, which extend.

above return-tubes. At the rear end of the boiler said pipes D D D are connected with a horizbnt'al steam chamber or header E, herein shownas arranged immediately over the several water-heads A A A. Said pipes D D D are exposed to products of combustion from the furnace, and act as superheating-pipes to dry the steam. Said pipes also afford space for the storage of steam. 4 t

The water-line of the boiler will commonly be located about on a line with the centers of the uppermost of the return-tubes C C C, thereby leaving steam-spaces in the upper parts of said tubes, which spaces aord Vcommunication between the small steam-spaces Y at the top of the rear water-heads A A A and the upper parts of the front water-heads pipe E', Fig. 3, connected with the header E near one end thereof. A safety-valve, when employed, may be conveniently located upon said header E, as indicated at E2.V

l In water-tube boilers of the class herein shown, embracing a water-head fromV the upper part of which steam is taken, it hasvbeen IOO found that when the said water-head is made .the water having the effect of carrying the water particles a considerable distance above the normal water-level, thereby allowing said particles to be drawn or carried into the heating-tubes with the steam. The objections are obviated in the boiler herein shown by providing the water-heads A at the level of the Y water with separating-chambers A2 A2 A2,

formed by making the said water-heads of considerably greater width at or adjacent to the surface of the water. This construction gives a relatively-large area of water-surface for the separating of steam from the water, while at `the same time avoiding the employment of a water-head, which is unnecessarily large and bulky in its parts above and below the water-line. In other words, myconstruction in this particular embraces the making of a narrow water-head of suiiicient size only for the proper circulation of the water except at the water-level, where the water-head is horizontally enlarged or made of much greater width than heretofore, forming a separating space or chamber, located only at the point where van extended water-surface is needednamely, at the water-line.

As a convenient and preferable construction, the enlarged or widened -parts of the water-heads, which constitute the steam-separating chambers, are made of sufficient height to receive the ends of the several water-return tubes C C C, as clearly shown in the drawings. Vhen this construction is used, it is entirely obvious that the wa ter which rises or moves upwardly within the front water-head, owing to the upward movement of steam therein, flows backwardly within the separating-chambers A2 toward the return-tubes, so that the water iiows rearwardly and into the said tubes while the steam separates therefrom and passes upwardly into the steam-heating tubes D D D. It is to be understood, however, that the separatingchambers formed by enlargement of the water-head at the water-level may be of other shape than the particular one shown, and that it is only strictly necessary, as far as the -separation of the steam from the wat-er is concerned, that the uppermost row of returnpipes should be connected with the said separating-chamber.

The several front water-heads A A A are provided with vertical partitions a a a, eX- tending from the bottom to the top thereof and arranged at such distance apart as to include between them the ends of one vertical row of the several sets of tubes B, O, and D.

Said tubes are desirably arranged in horizontal rows and with the tubes of one row over the spaces between the tubes of the adjacent row beneath it, the tubes being arranged as closely together as possible for the proper distribution of the heat. The said partitions a a a are therefore shaped in the form of a series of opposite bends or curves to pass between the ends of the pipes. The said partitions at points within the separating-chambers A2 A2 A2 are connected by stays co2 a2. The rear water-heads A A A are provided with similar partitions a ct. The purpose of the partitions a ct a a a a is to conine the steam passing from each vertical row of water-tubes and to carry the same to the steam-heating tubes, which are immediately above the same. The object of thus confining the steam is to prevent an unequal flow of steam in the different parts of the boiler-such as would be liable to occur in case such partitions were absent-by the naturaltendency of all the steam in the boiler to pass through the steam-heating tubes nearest the steam-exit pipe of the boiler. The passage of large proportion of steam therein through thesteamtubes nearest the exit will obviously not only tend to deprive the other tubes of the supply of steam which should be subjected to heat 'therein,but tends by the rapidity of its movement to lift the water and carry it out through the exit-pipe. The rapid passage of steam through said pipes which are nearest the exitpassage in the manner described, furthermore, obviously prevents a suicient heating of such steam to vaporize the water carried through said tubes with or by the steam. In a boiler in which the exit-pipe is located at one end of the header E-in the manner herein shown, for instance-in the absence of the be constructed in practice in any mannerV found convenient or desirable. As herein shown, however, the water-headsare made of cast metal, and the partitions are made integral with the walls of the heads.

I have herein shown the several water-heads at each end of the-boiler as arranged in contact with each other, and as having their adjacent side walls which are in contact curved to correspond in shape with the partitions a a', so that the several tubes B, C, and D, which .are connected with the several water-heads,

need be placed at no materially greater distance apart along the line at which the waterheads are joined than elsewhere. This vconstruction is of course employed in order to IOO IIO

save space and to enable all of the tubesv in a single boiler to be disposed at practically equal distances apart. I do not, however, wish to be limited to this particular construction in the water-heads. Nor do I wish to be limited to the employment of any particular number of water-heads, it being entirely obvious that the same advantages arising from the use of the vertical partitions and other features of novelty herein shown may be obtained when one or morethan one of such water-heads is used at each end of the boiler. In case a plurality of water-heads is present at each end of the boiler, asin the boiler illustrated, this construction is employed for convenience in making the water-heads when thel latter are of cast metal.

The several water-headsAA A at the front of the boiler areconnected with each other by means of, horizontal bolts cttat, which engage lugs cast upon the said water-heads at the upper and lower part thereof in a manner illustrated. The rear water-heads A A A are desirably arranged to communicate with each other at their lower parts by means of openings a5 a5 in the adjacent side walls of the heads. Packing-rings X are placed around said' openings between the said adjacent walls of the heads, so as to form close joints to prevent the escape of water at these points. Said rear water-heads are conveniently connected at their upper ends by bolts a passing through lugs cast upon the heads in the same manner as hereinbefore described. In order, however, to insure tight joints about the openings a5 a5 at the lower'parts of the header, a strong or heavy rod A3 is desirably inserted through lugs a7 a7 on the headers, said rods being provided with a head at one end and with a nut at its other end by which the lower parts of' the several headers may be forcibly clamped to each other for the purpose stated. Separate heavy bolts may of course be substituted for the rod A3 in practice.

G is a feed-pipe, which extends horizontally across the rear end of the boiler adjacent to the water-heads A A A and is provided with branches g g g, connecting said pipe with each of the said several water-heads. Said feed-pipe G is desirably located at a point opposite the space between the ends of the water-pipes B B and return-pipes C C.

In order to facilitate the prompt and equal distribution of water through the several vertical Vchambers formed by the partitions a ct', openings A4 A4 are formed in said partitions and are arranged on or about the same level as the water-pipe. The openings a5 a5 connect the several water-heads for the purpose of equalizing the quantity of water in the heads, and the passages A5 A5 at the lower end of the said partitions a a serve also to equalize the quantity of water in the spaces between the partitions, and further enableY sediment or mud to be taken from the entire lower part of each water-head from a single cated between the ends of the several steam'- i heating pipes. Said transverse partitions are perforated and serve as stays to hold together the opposite side walls of the header. A partial partition e', somewhat higher than the other partitions e e and extending to a' point above the ends of the uppermost row of steam-pipes, is located at the end of the steamheader nearest the steam-exit pipe and between the ends of the said several steampipes and said exit-pipe. The end of the steam-header with which the said pipe is connected is bent or curved downwardly and terminates in a downwardly-extending pipe E3, the lower end of which is arranged to communicate with one of the rear water-heads A. The upper wall of the said steam-header is extended in a downwardly-curved direction past the steam-exit pipe, which latter is arranged in the side wall of V,the steam-header. As a result of this construction, steam passing between the upper end of the partition e and the top wall of Vthe header is caused to ilow along the said curved wall e2 of the header, carrying with it any particles of water therein, which latter are thereby thrown or fall into the pipe E3 and are returned to the waterhead, the dry steam passing out through the IIO and carried out through the exit-pipe, itbeing i entirely obvious that. the water particles which are carried along the curved wall c2 will be carried by the impetus of their movement below the said partition e3 and will be prevented by said partition from being lifted up to said exit-pipe by the eddying of the steam as it approaches the exit-pipe, o'r otherwise.

The front wall of the nwater-heads A A A and the rear or outer walls of the water-heads A A A are provided with hand-holes a9 0,9, arranged opposite or in alignment with the several water and steam pipes hereinbeforev described, said hand-holes being for thepurj pose of enabling the said tubes to be cleaned or removed for renewal or repairs.. As anA improved means of closing said holes, I employ theconstruction illustratedin the drawings, and shown more particularly in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. In said-drawings, I-I isa hand-hole plate, which is arranged inside of the waterhead, and is'fttcd at its marginsto themargins of the hand-hole, the hand-hole and plate commonly being circular in form. The plate is held removably in place by devices confrm a circular bolt-hole.

hole plate H, the bolt being provided with a head j at its outer end bearing against the outer surface of the parts I I of the two-part cap. In securing the hand-hole plates in place, said plates are inserted inside of the l Water-h ead. The boltJ is then engaged therewith, the parts I I of the cap then placed on either side of the bolt in engagement with the edges of the hand-hole, and the bolt then tightened up until the head thereof is brought against the said cap and the handhole plate iirmly clamped against the wall of the waterhead. To prevent the hand-hole plate from turning with relation to the two-part cap when the bolt is tightened, said plate is provided with an outward-projecting lug h', and one of the parts I of the cap is provided with a simi lar inwardly-extending lug 1?, said lugs h 2 being of such length that when the parts are placed together the ends of the lugs will eX- tend past each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Said lugs will obviously come in contact with each other in case the plate turns around in the act of tightening the bolt, and thereby prevent farther turning of the plate after the lugs come together.

The hand-hole plates being made larger in diameter than the hand-holes, it is obviously necessary to provide a hole or holes in each of the headers of sufficient size to enable the said plates to be'inserted into the interior of the headers, and where the water heads are provided with vertical partitions in the manner illustrated one of such larger hand-holes must be provided between each ot' the part-itions. For this purpose, as shown in the drawings, the front water` heads A A A are provided with hand-holes al@ d10 at their upper ends opposite the ends of the uppermost row of heating-tubes D, said hand-holes am being preferably made the same width in one direction as the hand holes a9, but of sufficient length to enable the circular hand-hole plates belonging to the hand-holes a9 a9 to be inserted therethrough. The hand-hole plates andthe two-part caps for closing the said elongated hand-holes al@ are constructed in the same manner as those hereinbefore described. It is not of course essential that the larger or elongated hand-holes intended to admit the hand-hole plates belonging to the other hand-holes should be arranged at the upper ends of the water-heads, but this construction is in some respects the more convenient one and will usually be preferred.

In attaching the hand-hole plates they may be inserted through the elongated hand-holes and placed opposite the hand-holes to which theybelongin anymannerfound convenientor desirable. One simple way of accomplishing this end consists in securing a string to the hand-hole plate which is to be inserted and dropping the plate through the enlarged or elongated hole and lowering the same bythe string until it cornes opposite the hole which it is to cover, when the bolt J may be engaged with it and the parts connected in the manner before described I have herein shown the lug h upon the hand-hole plate as being provided with a small aperture h2, into which a string may be inserted and tied foi` the purpose described. In the case of the rear wallheads A A the elongated hand-holes am are shown as arranged opposite the uppermost row of the inclined water-tubes B B.

The furnace and parts adjacent thereto in the particular construction illustrated are made as follows: L is the furnace; L', the bridge-wall; L2, the furnace-grate, and l the furnace-doorway. M M are vertical plates or castings, which support the front water-V heads of the boiler, and which are also provided with outwardly-extended parts fm m for the attachment of the lower part of the front wall K in the manner clearly shown in the drawings, Figs. l and 2. Z is'the furnace-door,

which is hinged at its bottom edge to the said plates M M, and is adapted to swing outwardly and downwardlythrough the door K of the wall K when the latter door is open, said furnace-door resting in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position when open, in the manner shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The door when in this position prevents the coal from falling into the space between the ash-pit and front wall K during the feeding of the furnace. Said front wall Kis desir-ably provided in its upper part with a hinged door K3, which maybe opened for inspection of the front water-heads and for other purposes.

The general arrangement of the furnace' walls may be of any character found desirable or preferable. tical partition-wall L3 is arranged toextend upwardly from the bridge-wall L between and nearly to the top of the inclined watch tubes B. N is a horizontal wall or partition formed by fire-brick or tiles resting upon the uppermost row of pipes C and extending rearwardly from the front water-head about two-thirds of the length of the boiler.

wall N is connected at its rear end with the upper end of a vertical wall N, which extends downwardly to the t-op of the inclined Water-tubes B. A top wall or cover O for the furnace is conveniently formed by brick or tiles resting upon the top row of steam-heating pipes D, which top row of pipes in the As herein shown, a ver- Said construction shown are arranged horizontally and suitably supported to sustain the weight of the said top wall by a transverse girder or girders O. The exit-pipe or smoke-stack P is located near the front of the furnace and opens through the said top wall O into `the space between the said top wall and the horizontal partition N.

The several walls and partitions, arranged in the mannerdescribed, serve to afford a passage for the flames and products of combustion around or among-the several water steam-heating tubes in the manner indicated by the arrows, Fig. l.

I claim as my inventionl. A steam-generator consisting of opposite water-heads, water-tubes connecting said heads, one of said water-heads being enlarged horizontally at the water-line to form a separating-chamber, and steam-heating tubes connected with the enlarged water-head.

2. A steam-chamber comprising va waterhead extending above the water-level of the boiler and having a steam-space formed in its upper part, water-tubes connected with said water-head, and steam-tubes connected with the upper part of said water-head, said water-head being provided with vertical partitions extending from the top of the steamspace of the head to points below the waterlevel.

3. A steam-generator comprising waterheads located at opposite ends of the generator, inclined water-tubes connected at their ends with said heads, horizontalreturn-tubes located above the inclined tubes, and also connected with said heads, one of said heads extending above the water-level, forming a steam-space, and steam-heating tubes connected with the steam-space in the head above the water-return tubes, the latter head being provided. with vertical partitions extending from the top ot' the steam-space therein to points below the water-level.

4. A steam-generator comprising` waterheads located at opposite ends thereof and extending above the water-level of the same and water-tubes connecting said heads and steamheating tubes connected with the top of one of said heads, said water-heads being provided with vertical partitions extending from bottom to top of same, which partitions are,

provided in one of the heads with holes located below the water-level to preserve the same water-level in the spaces between thel several partitions, substantially as described.

5. A steam-generator comprising two waterheads, one of which is provided with a steam connected with said several steam-tubes and provided with a steam-exit, said water-head containing the steam space or chamber being provided with vertical partitions extending from the top of the same to points below the water-level, substantially as described.

6. A steamgenerator comprising a plurality of steam-heating tubes and a steam-header connected with said tubes, a water-exit pipe connecting one end of said header with the water-space of the generator, and a steamexit pipe located at the end of the steamheader adjacent to the said water-exit pipe, said header being provided with a transverse partial partition extending upwardly fromits bottom wall between the steam-heating tubes and the steam-exit pipe and having its end wall curved downward toward the said waterexit pipe, substantially as described.

7 A steam-generator compri singaplurality of steam-heating tubes and a steam-header connected with said tubes, a water-exit pipe connecting one end of said headerwith the water-space of the generator, a steamexit pipe located at the end of the header 'adjacent to the water-exit pipe, said header being provided with atransverse partial partition extending upwardly from'its bottom wall between the steam-heating tubes and the steam exit pipe and having its endwall curved downwardly to the said 'water-exit pipe, and a partial partition e3, located in the header over the water-exit pipe, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a water-head provided with a hand-hole, of a hand-hole cover tting against the inner face of the waterhead and means for holding the same in place, comprising a two-part cup-shaped cap and a bolt engaged with the cap and with the ,handhole cover, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a water-head provided with a hand-hole, of a hand-hole cover provided with an outwardly-extending lug, a two-part cupshaped cap provided with an inwardly-extending lug, and a screw-bolt, substantially as described.Y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GILBERT A. COLBY.

Witnesses: v

C. CLARENCE POOLE, TAYLOR E. BROWN.

IOO

IIO 

